Nintendo eShop’s New December 15, 2016 Releases

How’s your Christmas shopping going? I am almost done with mine, thankfully. Speaking of shopping, today’s a Thursday, so I wonder if Nintendo uploaded anything tempting on the eShop.

Excitebots: Trick Racing is the sequel to Excite Truck, and now you can ride on the aging Wii U. Play as one of 20 animal-themed vehicles and perform tricks to improve your score. Friends, say it with me: “Super Sandwich!”

Picross e7, a Nintendo 3DS game, is the newest installment in Jupiter Corporation’s Picross e series. Picross is billed as a “Picture Crossword Puzzle Game” and it’s a great time killer. While the e series has stagnated somewhat, this entry is the first to let you mark squares you’re unsure about. Mega Picross puzzles now go as high as 20×15, too.

Super Mario Run, while technically unrelated to the eShop, has finally landed on iPads and iPhones across the country. Run, jump and parkour across six worlds of side-scrolling action, and use your progress therein to decorate your own Mushroom Kingdom. Sadly, I must wait longer to join in as an Android user, but I’m eager to hear your impressions of Mario’s latest landmark title. Remember: a sample is free to download, and paying $9.99 will unlock the premium experience.

Here’s everything Nintendo released on the eShop this week:

Wii U

Games:

• Breakout Defense (nuGame, $7.00)
• Scribble (Bear Box Media, $3.99)
• Excitebots: Trick Racing (Nintendo, $19.99 – originally for the Wii)

Nintendo 3DS

Games:

• Mercenaries Saga 3 (CIRCLE Entertainment, $5.99)
• Picross e7 (Jupiter Corporation, $5.99)

Nothing listed above catches your attention? Then check out what’s on sale. Shadow Puppeteer, Soul Axiom and 3Souls, all for the Wii U, are highlighted as this week’s most noteworthy offerings. 3Souls will receive its next two episodes as free DLC next year, in case you need an incentive to try it.